Every year on the 1st August Yorkshire Day is celebrated and it is a celebration of everything that is Yorkshire.

Yorkshire is named after York and York is a shortened form of the Viking name Jorvik, which was in turn an interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon name Eoforwic.

Yorkshire flag - photo by Adam Wyles

Yorkshire is known as 'God's Own County' and Yorkshire is the biggest county in the UK, with a population of over 5 million which is almost twice the size of Wales.

The official Yorkshire flag was first unfurled in Hull in 2008 and since then flags will be flying all around Yorkshire on Yorkshire Day.

On Yorkshire Day members of the Yorkshire Ridings Society carry the Yorkshire flag and lead the annual walk around the walls of York. The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity is read at the 4 Bars (Gates) in York annually on Yorkshire Day, one for each Riding and once for the City of York.

Tan Hill Inn

Some interesting facts about Yorkshire

Yorkshire's three National Parks – the North York Moors, most of the Yorkshire Dales, and part of the Peak District – account for nearly a third of the total area of National Parks in the UK

The Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale is said to be Britain’s highest pub at 1,732ft above sea level.

The earliest reference to ‘Yorkshire Pudding’ was in Hannah Glasse’s Art Of Cookery in 1747

Leeds, York, and Scarborough are among the top ten most visited English towns by UK residents.

Shambles, York - photo by Philip N Young

Shambles in York is regarded as the best-preserved medieval street in Europe.

If Yorkshire were an independent country it would have finished an incredible twelfth on the league table in the 2012 Olympics gaining 7 Golds, 2 Silvers and 3 Bronze.

Yorkshire hosted the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in 2014.

Wensleydale cheese originates from Yorkshire, the Rhubarb Triangle is situated in West Yorkshire and The Magpie Cafe in Whitby offers award-winning Fish 'n' Chips.

Many businesses have also been founded in Yorkshire, such as Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Tetley's Brewery and the Taylors Group, famous for Bettys and Yorkshire Tea.

The Magpie Cafe, Whitby - photo by Elfleda

How much more is known about Yorkshire?

Well the list is endless.

Still there will always be another Yorkshire Day next year.

So enjoy Yorkshire Day and wear your Yorkshire rose with pride for today is #YorkshireDay.